Grevillea plant named ‘TWD02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Grevillea laurifolia  cultivar named ‘TWD02’ which is characterized by a very prostrate growth habit with a vigorous growth rate, dark green mature foliage and bronze colored juvenile foliage with red immature branches, dense foliage, racemose inflorescence with approximately 40 dark red-purple florets with prominent bright red-purple exserted styles, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Grevillea laurifolia.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Grevillea laurifolia disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘TWD02’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeder's Rights application number 2016/100, filed on May 4 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: In January of 2009, a unique Grevillea seedling was discovered by the inventor at his commercial nursery in Kalaru, New South Wales, Australia. The seedling was found growing in a cultivated crop of Grevillea laurifolia (unnamed common form of the species); the claimed plant exhibited a faster rate of growth compared to all other surrounding plants, which is known to grow slowly. The new seedling was isolated and grown to a mature size to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics initially observed. After further evaluation and confirmation of the desirable traits, the claimed plant was selected for commercialization and given the breeder denomination, ‘TWD02’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘TWD02’ was first asexually reproduced by way of softwood stem cuttings in 2010 at the inventor's nursery in Kalaru, New South Wales, Australia. It was found to grow uniform and reproduce in a stable manner and 10 successive cycles of vegetative propagation have proven to be true to type also.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Grevillea cultivar ‘TWD02’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘TWD02’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Grevillea laurifolia ‘TWD02’ exhibits a short plant height         and a prostrate, densely foliaged growth habit; and     -   2. Grevillea laurifolia ‘TWD02’ exhibits a fast rate of growth;         and     -   3. Grevillea laurifolia ‘TWD02’ exhibits dark green mature         foliage and bronze colored juvenile foliage, with red immature         branches; and     -   4. Grevillea laurifolia ‘TWD02’ exhibits a secund raceme         inflorescence with approximately 40 dark red-purple florets with         prominent bright red-purple exserted styles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 1.5 year old ‘TWD02’ plant grown outdoors in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary inflorescence of the claimed plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Grevillea laurifolia ornamental plant known as ‘TWD02’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from 1.5 year-old mature ‘TWD02’ plants, grown in a 30 cm nursery pot. These plants were grown outdoors in full sun. Plants were not fertilized and were periodically watered with overhead irrigation, as needed. No pest and disease measures were taken. Observation data was recorded in the April of 2017.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘TWD02’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 edition except where common terms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘TWD02’ and comparisons with the presumed parents are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Prostrate; flat and spreading.         -   Height.—Approximately 35 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 300 cm.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 10 to 11.         -   Environmental tolerances.—‘TWD02’ has not yet been observed             under all conditions but has shown to be heat tolerant,             adapting well to temperatures of 112 degrees Fahrenheit             without any noticeable damage. ‘TWD02’ has shown good             drought tolerance, typical of the species, once established.         -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—Neither             susceptibility nor resistance to common pests and diseases             known to affect Grevillea have been observed.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood             cuttings.         -   Time to develop roots.—8 to 12 weeks.         -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 months are needed to produce a             fully rooted cutting; approximately 12 months are needed to             produce a marketable plant in a 1 gallon nursery pot. -   Root system:     -   -   Branching habit.—A network of large primary roots, giving             rise to a plurality of fibrous roots; densely rooted.         -   Distribution of roots in the soil profile.—Evenly             distributed from shallow to deep.         -   Texture.—Mature roots are smooth; juvenile roots are fleshy.         -   Color.—Mature roots are greyed-orange, nearest to in between             RHS 166B and 175C; juvenile roots are greyed-orange, nearest             to RHS 164D. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Single main stem which freely branches;             numerous prostrate to decumbent secondary branches.         -   Main stem.—Attitude — Erect; nearly 90 degrees to             horizontal. Cross section — Rounded. Dimensions —             Approximately 100 mm long and 60 mm in diameter. Color —             Greyed-orange, RHS 177A with fissures colored greyed-green,             RHS 197C. Texture — Smooth.         -   Lateral branches.—Aspect — At nearly 90 degrees from main             stem. Cross section — Rounded. Strength — Medium. Length of             lateral branches — Can grow up to 300 cm. Diameter of             lateral branches — Ranging from 8 to 12 mm at the base,             depending on age of the branch. Internode length on lateral             branches — 35 mm on average. Texture of lateral branches —             Strigose. Color, juvenile — Yellow-green, RHS 145B, and             becoming heavily suffused with greyed-red, in between RHS             181B and 181C, towards the distal portion of the branch; the             most juvenile portion of the branch is entirely greyed-red,             in between RHS 181B and 181C. Color, mature — Greyed-orange,             RHS 177A with fissures colored greyed-green, RHS 197C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—100 to 120 mm.         -   Width.—25 to 30 mm.         -   Thickness.—0.2 mm.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire and lightly undulated.         -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Strigose.         -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Strigose.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-orange,             RHS 172C; occasionally greyed-red, RHS 178B. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 145A, and             heavily suffused with greyed-orange, nearest to a             combination of RHS 166B and 166C. Mature foliage, adaxial             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144A, and very lightly suffused             with greyed-orange, RHS 166B. Mature foliage, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 145A.         -   Venation.—Pattern — Cross venulate. Vein color, adaxial             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 145B, and lightly suffused with             greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and 181C, towards the base.             Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 145B, and             lightly suffused with greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and             181C, towards the base.         -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 15 to 17 mm long and 1.5 to 2 mm in             diameter. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 145B, and suffused with             greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and 181C. Texture —             Strigose.         -   Stipule.—Arrangement — Free. Shape — Elongated. Apex —             Acute. Dimensions — 7 mm long and 2 mm wide. Color —             Greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and 181C. Texture —             Strigose. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal and axillary racemes with clusters of             approximately 40 flowers.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to summer in the southern             hemisphere.         -   Dimensions.—Dimensions vary but a mature terminal raceme is             up to 70 mm in length, from the base of the peduncle to the             stigma of the terminal-most flower, and approximately 50 mm             wide, from style to style of the most outstretched lateral             flowers.         -   Quantity.—Moderately floriferous.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 30 to 35 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.             Attitude — Approximately 30 degrees from horizontal. Color —             Greyed-red, in between RHS 181B and 181C. Texture —             Strigose. Strength — Strong. -   Bud:     -   -   Dimensions.—9 mm long and 3 mm in diameter.         -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong and clubbed at the distal end.         -   Color.—Red-purple, RHS 59B.         -   Pubescence.—Finely pubescent. -   Flower:     -   -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — 3 to 4 mm long and 1.0 mm wide. Color             — Red-purple, RHS 59C. Texture and pubescence — Strigose.             Strength — Strong.         -   Perianth.—General description — Small, pedicellate floret             with a closed perianth which creates a floral tube made up             of two dorsal and two ventral tepals, which terminate at             their apex and form a ball-like “tepal limb” which house the             anthers. Quantity of flowers — Approximately 40 flowers per             inflorescence. Sequence and rate of opening — Racemose;             sequential proximal to distal, moderate around 5 days from             first to last on each inflorescence. Persistence — Not             persistent. Fragrance — Not fragrant. Aspect — Erect. Tepals             — Quantity — 4 fused tepals. Arrangement — Fused into a             tube. Dimensions — Perianth tube width is approximately 3             mm, with an average length of 12.5 mm. Texture, pubescence             and luster — Smooth, pubescent with fine, silky hairs, and             matte luster. Color when opening — Red-purple, RHS 59C.             Color when fully opened — Red-purple, RHS 59C. Petal color             fading to — Not fading. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Four. Attachment — Adnate to the             perianth tube. Anthers — Shape — Irregularly triangular.             Diameter — 1 mm. Color — Yellow, nearest to RHS 11C. Pollen             — Low to medium. Pollen Color — White, nearest to RHS 155C.         -   Pistils.—Quantity — One. Dimensions — Approximately 30 mm             long and 1.5 mm wide. Stigma — Shape — Club-like. Dimensions             — 2 mm long and 2.5 mm wide. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 145A.             Texture — Smooth. Style — Dimensions — 28 mm long and 1.5 mm             wide. Color — Red-purple, nearest to RHS 58B. Texture —             Smooth. Ovary — Position — Superior. Dimensions — 15 mm long             and 10 mm wide. Texture and pubescence — Smooth. -   Seed:     -   -   Quantity.—One.         -   Shape.—Ovoid with a thin papery wing that is approximately 1             mm wide.         -   Color.—Brown, RHS 200A.         -   Dimensions.—9 mm long and 5 mm in diameter.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PRESUMED PARENTS AND CLOSEST KNOWN VARIETY

‘TWD02’ may be distinguished from the parent Grevillea laurifolia (unnamed common form of the species) by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘TWD02’ Grevillea laurifolia Foliage density. Low to medium. Medium to high. Quantity of Low. Medium to high. inflorescence.

‘TWD02’ may be distinguished from Grevillea laurifolia ‘Blue Mountain Rambler’ (unpatented) by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘TWD02’ ‘Blue Mountain Rambler’ General coloration of Dark green. Lighter green. mature foliage. Plant vigor. Low to medium. High. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Grevillea laurifolia plant named ‘TWD02’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 